Missing a Tooth? Fix it With a Dental Implant

You can lose one or more teeth in a variety of ways, including accidents or injuries, decay, or gum disease. While tooth loss can make eating less efficient, that’s not the end of the effects. Your speech could be affected, and losing teeth at the front of your mouth can shake your confidence as it disrupts your smile. 

Dental implants are the only tooth replacement system that addresses both the visible and invisible effects of tooth loss, above and below the surface, making it the new standard of care for filling the gaps left by lost teeth. 

Implant systems are a specialty for the team at Hillsdale Dental Care in San Jose. No matter what level of tooth loss you’re dealing with, there’s likely an implant solution that will work for you. Here’s why dental implants offer a clear advantage over other tooth replacement methods. 

Tooth and bone interaction

Replacing missing teeth helps to maintain the health of both the remaining teeth and your jawbone.The roots of teeth interact with and stimulate your jawbone, triggering your body to send nutrients to your jaw every time you chew. 

When you lose a tooth, you lose that stimulation. Replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant restores the natural interaction and prevents deterioration of the jawbone to keep your facial structure intact. Implants are the only tooth replacement option that replaces the root. 

The implant system

Dental implant systems have three parts:

• The titanium post that screws into your jawbone, serving as the artificial tooth root 
• An abutment connects the post to the crown 
• The crown, the visible part of the system, above the gumline, customized to match the remaining natural teeth

Not every implant solution uses one implant for each missing tooth. Multiple crowns can be mounted on a single implant, and posts may be used as an attachment point for removable dentures. The best system for you depends on your tooth loss and overall oral health. 

The advantages of implants

Dental implants provide an effective and permanent option to restore your natural smile while allowing you to regain most of the benefits of natural teeth. With a success rate around 98%,  dental implants provide a lifetime of healthy smiles with proper care.

Dental implants offer several advantages over other tooth replacement options. Because a dental implant is permanently secured in your mouth, it eliminates the need for daily removal and cleaning as is necessary with dentures. The customized fit of a dental implant also prevents slipping. 

Implants also allow you to replace a missing tooth while leaving the adjoining, natural teeth intact. This improves your chances of long-term oral health. Unlike dental bridges, which may require grinding of the adjoining teeth, a dental implant is self-supporting. 

You regain jawbone stimulation and natural teeth no longer drift into spaces left by missing teeth. Bite alignment remains intact, and there’s less risk of developing jaw joint disorders. 

To learn more about your best implant options, call Hillsdale Dental Care at 408-444-8069 to schedule a consultation. The more you know, the more it becomes clear why dental implants are the standard of care for effective tooth replacement. Book your appointment now.